Annabella's Oblivion (Hard World Tour #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

took a deep breath.
    “ If there was something bothering you, something you were struggling with, you would tell me, right?” She searched my eyes, but I gave nothing away. She wanted the truth, but lying was my only escape. The truth would hurt her, and I didn’t want that. She was my best friend and unfortunately, what I’d been doing for the last two months would destroy her like nothing else. I simply couldn’t disappoint her like that.
    “ Of course, Sam. You would know.” She hesitated a second before giving in and hugging me. I closed my eyes. Her warmth made me want to cry and confess, but I couldn’t.
    It was the only way for me to see him, and I wouldn’t give it up for anyone, not even for her and the girls.
    It was the closest thing I had to Nick in my life.
     

     
    “ Nicky, you’re back.” I sighed in relief. I wanted to touch him, but knew better. He was here and he talked, but I couldn’t touch him. But it was okay.
    The drug was helping me, whatever the hell it was. I took it the first time and never looked back.
    I heard voices outside my room. The house was full of people Logan invited over when he brought me yet another dose. They probably trashed the house, but I didn’t care. I got high in my room and had quiet conversations with Nick; that was all that mattered.
    The cleaners would come in the morning, pick up the mess, and for a little extra tip, keep it quiet.
    After all, I’d been doing this shit for two months. I’d mastered the act.
    “ Yes, baby girl, I’m here for you.” His voice wasn’t gentle and soft as usual, but more distant. It was one of the few things I had to get used to.
    “ How was your day?” I watched him smile and sit on the chair opposite my bed as he raked his hand through his raven-black hair. He was tall and lean, and looked exactly like our dad, while I was a carbon copy of our mother. I shook my head; those weren’t the memories I wanted to think about while I was with Nick. These moments were precious.
    Our fucked-up parents, who’d died a few years ago, weren’t precious.
    “ Maybe tell me about your day?” He never spoke about his day, always directed a question at me. I would let it all out, and then he’d disappear. I didn’t push him for more, because I was afraid he would go sooner than I was ready. It was our little secret that he was here, that I’d found a way to bring my brother back to me. I didn’t want to share him with anyone.
    “ It was okay. I went to the studio today. The girls wanted to give me a break, but I showed them everything is fine. I practiced some of the songs with them and then came home.” He smiled, but I didn’t like those smiles of his lately because his eyes seemed dead. There wasn’t the usual warmth that was associated with Nicky. Somehow, he seemed like a stranger.
    “ I’m proud of you, baby girl. You keep on living, even when I can’t be with you all the time.” That made me smile, because I liked him being happy for me and believing I was strong. I had to be. Logan couldn’t supply me as much as I wanted and I had to limit this whole thing to three times a week. The rest of the time, I just slept and bothered with showering only when I had to go to the studio.
    “ Thank you. I invited Logan—” But he was already slowly disappearing.
    “ No, Nicky, please!” I just needed a minute longer of that connection, of the thing that used to be. I tried to run toward him, but he was gone. I was so tired of him being gone. Sometimes, I had the deep need to talk to someone but couldn’t; no one would understand. They would take him away from me, and I couldn’t have that. I heard a loud crash from outside and opened the door to see what it was. There was loud music playing, trash all over the place, and some of it looked gross. People were smoking joints and drinking, and some of them even had public sex. I didn’t care, whatever Logan needed.
    I found him on the couch. He looked high and some girl